Emu Park Art Gallery closes its doors as it looks towards new home in 2020

Member for Keppel and Assistant Education Minister Brittany Lauga said the new hub would set the standard for the coastal community.

“The Palaszczuk Government knows just how important the role of the arts is to all our communities, which is why we’ve committed $800,000 to this project from the 2019/20 round of the Works for Queensland program,” Mrs Lauga said.

“Across the three rounds of the program, Livingstone has received $10.4 million for 46 projects, estimated to create or support almost 300 jobs.

“Our $600 million Works for Queensland project is specifically for regional Queensland councils, with more than 16,000 jobs already supported across the State.”

Past President and member of the Emu Park Art Gallery Noel Brady said while it was a sad day closing the doors for the last time on Sunday, the new future of the art gallery and the wider arts community of the Capricorn Coast presented a fresh and exciting chapter.

“Our space in Pattison Street served us well over the years, and allowed the arts community to grow and flourish with countless workshops, exhibitions, and artist events,” Mr Brady said.

“We would like to take this opportunity thank all of our patrons, supporters, past members, friends of the Gallery and anyone who has shared our journey over the past 15 years or so, and invite you to follow us into the future as we transition to our new home in mid – 2020.

“In the meantime, the gallery committee and members are still active and we’re hoping to hold pop-up galleries in the coming months.”

Mayor Bill Ludwig said the Emu Park Art Gallery and its members had made a valuable contribution to the growing arts community on the Capricorn Coast.

“It’s also important to acknowledge the legacy of the late Ros Beasley who was instrumental in establishing the gallery. The spirit of that collective legacy will be integrated and celebrated in the new gallery space,” Mayor Ludwig said.

“The new art gallery will be located on the corner of Pattison Street and Hill Street. It will establish a long-term community arts hub in Emu Park to support the Emu Park Art Gallery, increase tourism and stimulate the local economy. It will also promote community wellbeing by creating opportunities for residents to participate in creative practices.

“Council would like to thank the Queensland Government for its valuable funding support towards the project through the Works for Queensland programme.”

Councillor Pat Eastwood said the hub’s location will remain in the town centre and will complement the relaxed coastal atmosphere of Emu Park, while enabling Council’s strategic vision around the development of arts and culture.

The project is scheduled for completion in August 2020.